OSAKA, Japan — In the battle between Asia’s and Oceania’s top-ranked nations, world No. 2 Japan completed a two-game sweep, shutting out No. 8 Australia, 6-0, Sunday night before a crowd of 27,951 at the Kyocera Osaka Dome.

Samurai starter Takahiro Norimoto (Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles – NPB) registered five strikeouts in his two innings pitched and was credited with the victory. Japan pitchers held the Aussies to just three hits.

Trent D’Antonio’s (Sydney Blue Sox – ABL) near-home run off the right-center field wall in the 9th inning was the closest the Aussies were to scoring.

Go Matsumoto (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters – NPB) had 3 RBI, and Yusuke Akiyama (Hanshin Tigers) had 2 RBI and a triple to power the offense.